Greetings True Believers! The new guy says&nbsp'Hi'...

The author's views are entirely his or her own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz.

Hey gang, Scott Willoughby here. As the latest addition to the SEOmoz team, Rand requested that I write a little introduction to let you all know who the new guy is lurking around the site.

For those of you who've been astutely following the SEOmoz hiring saga over the last few months: I am indeed the silver-medalist from the original job search mentioned in Rebecca's awesome hiring article. While Jane "Kiwi Krusader" Copland may have beaten me out for that position, I'm not that easy to get rid of. Apparently, I made a good enough impression that when Andy Beal suggested SEOmoz add a Campaign Coordinator (alternately referred to as a Project Manager by Rebecca and a Client Relations Coordinator by Rand), they thought of me. Color me flattered.

Of course after the utter soul-crushing disappointment of losing out on the chance to work with this awesome group of people, I was more than eager to join the gang; especially in a capacity more attuned to my past experience. What past experience you ask? Allow me to give you the brief saga of my varied vocational and educational pursuits:

I graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in Communications in 2000. While there, I focused a lot on media communications and video production. These studies and my lifelong fascination with film led me to Chapman University in California where I earned an MFA in Film & Television Producing in 2002. While there, I produced several student films and developed a taste for managing all of the various aspects of intense, fast-paced film projects.

Shortly before finishing my MFA, I began working in creative development for a couple of different production companies. This involved finding properties worth making into films and ushering them through the creative process from page to screen. I worked on several major motion pictures and met lots of big celebrities (although I'm probably the least starstruck person on Earth).

While I certainly enjoyed this work, I loathed living in Los Angeles and working within the greed-motivated, selfish, kiddie-pool shallow community that is the film industry. I swung the motivational pendulum very hard and, after a couple of years, decided I would try my hand at saving the world! Literally...one person at a time.

I left L.A. and returned to my alma mater, WWU, for five quarters of very intensive pre-med study. Having never been much of a science guy before, I did surprisingly well in these classes and scored in the 93rd percentile on the MCAT. As I was beginning the med school application process, however, I also began working at a hospital. I quickly realized that it was not an environment I could spend my career in: the medical field, while interesting to me for many reasons, simply didn't fit my personality.

After contemplating switching gears and going to law school, I instead decided that I needed to find a company and a business community where I'd be surrounded and stimulated by smart, fun, creative people in an ever-changing, project-oriented environment. Knowing absolutely nothing about SEO, I stumbled upon the SEOmoz job posting and the rest is history.

In the very short time I've been here, SEOmoz is already proving to be all that I hoped it would be. The mozzers really are an incredible team and I'm truly honored to be among their number. I look forward to learning more about the technical side of SEO and hopefully absorbing some of Rand's marketing brilliance. I also look forward to joining the greater SEO community and becoming one of your comrades in arms. Though I humbly request that you please forgive my naivete as I navigate the noob learning curve.

Thanks for reading this (admittedly lengthy) introduction. I pledge to do my best to quell my tendancy to ramble in future posts. I will leave you now with some fun facts:

I think most people loathe French films, but think they'll sound uncultured if they admit it.

I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.

Once "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon'd" Shirley Temple and Tupac.

Worked as a Campaign Manager for the DNC during the 2004 Presidential race.

Took 4th place (for my age division) in the World Cup Karate Championship when I was 9.

...working within the greed-motivated, selfish, kiddie-pool shallow community that is the film industry

Ouch... burn! Don't worry, I'm not in the industry. Well done on the SEOmoz appointment as they seem to be a great bunch and run their business very similarly to the way we do. This is my first comment on this blog, but trust me, I've been on the feed and reading regularly for a while now. All the best!
adesignrsa
edited 2006-11-11T06:46:50-08:00

We're as plesaed to have you, as you are to be a part of the team. You've been through trial by fire this week, and it has not gone unnoticed that you were up to the tasks and cheerful to the end.
Welcome to SEOmoz, Scott! I know you're going to have a great time, here.